President Rajapaksa hands over credentials to Dr Nonis, new Sri Lankan HC for UK
Posted on August 29th, 2011
By Janaka Alahapperuma
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa handed over credentials to the newly appointed Sri Lankan High Commissioner- designate to the United Kingdom, Dr Chris Nonis, recently at Temple Trees. According to the reliable sources of the Sri Lanka High Commission in London, Dr Nonis will assume duties this week, on 01 September.
This high profile position was vacant for many months since the former High Commissioner Nihal Jayasinghe left the office on 31 December 2010 after finishing his tenure. Since then Deputy High Commissioner P.M.Amza who is a career diplomat appointed as the Acting High Commissioner to carry out the diplomatic duties and build up bilateral relations in London.
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A leading Doctor Chris Nonis who is holding many high positions in private organizations is not a stranger to the UK. He studied in London and qualified with BSc. First Class Honours from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. He continued his MBBS at Royal Free Hospital, University of London and MRCP at Royal College of Physicians, UK. Dr Nonis completed his electives at Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA and Postgraduate at Addenbrooke’s Cambridge, Brompton & Hammersmith. He has a close rapport with British political hierarchies, law makers and leading business barons in the UK for many years.
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The Sri Lankan High Commissioner designated to Britain also holds the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Medicine, London and the prestigious Deputy Chairman position at Royal Commonwealth Society, UK. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He also a member of Advisory Committee on Peace & Reconciliation, of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Director, Sri Lankan Airlines, Director, Ceylon Hotels Corporation PLC, Board Member,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Grants Board of the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka, Council Member, Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Country Coordinating Mechanism of the Global Fund for AIDS, TB & Malaria, Committee Member, Sri Lanka-China Business Council, Committee Member, Sri Lanka-Africa & Middle East Business Council, Committee Member, Sri Lanka-Malaysia Business Council, Board Member, International Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka, Board Member, Ramphal Centre for Commonwealth Policy Studies, UK and the President of International Life Sciences Institute, South Asia, Sri Lanka Committee.
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Dr Nonis, the current Chairman of the Mackwoods PLC which was established in 1841, the world famous leading Sri Lankan tea exporter that continues the tradition of excellence in Ceylon tea internationally. He was accorded the unique privilege of presenting the Mackwoods ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Queens Golden Jubilee BlendƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ at Buckingham Palace few years ago.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This connoisseurƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s blend, which carried the official Golden Jubilee Logo, was specially created to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. And also the Mackwoods Tea marquees have represented Sri Lanka at many prestigious events, exhibitions, celebrations and auctions including the World Tea Party for many years.
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Prior to his departure Dr Nonis joined together with John Rankin, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka to open an ICT and English Literacy Centre for plantation youth, one of their charitable projects funded by Mackwoods.
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August 30th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Let us all hope and pray that Dr Nonis performs very much better where others before him have failed!! As a case in point I was surprised to hear that the GoSL video “Lies Agreed” in response to CH4 is still not formally with the UK broadcast Regulator Ofcom! If what we are saying is the truth in our response why are we worried ? – S de Silva – London
August 31st, 2011 at 3:10 am
S de Silva
Ref: If what we are saying is the truth in our response why are we worried ?
Who said We worried , Jan2009 We said 70,000 in Vanni but we released(?) 297,000 from IDP camp , Who said We killed any one ! not even one civilian killed in our war ( from PR speach) !
You have answer for your question Mr Silva !
God bless My Mother Lanka !